Drawing on new interviews and newly discovered correspondence, this comprehensive biography of the author of the chilling short story "The Lottery" (and the classic ghost story The Haunting of Hill House) sheds light on the rest of Shirley Jackson's life and work. Placing Jackson's literary suspense squarely in line with the American Gothic work of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe, author Ruth Franklin also points to her varied oeuvre as indicative of a time in which women had limited options. Insightful and engaging, this biography has won several awards, including a Bram Stoker Award, an Edgar Allan Poe Award, and a National Book Critics Circle Award.

Intrepid sociologist Margee Kerr makes Fear Factor look tame as she investigates the biological and emotional response to fear as well as what motivates people to seek out fear-inducing activities. Her investigation led her to such hands-on experiences as riding extreme roller coasters, spending time in solitary confinement, and hanging out on the roof of a skyscraper; thrill-seekers will get some great ideas here.

When Mary Shelley published Frankenstein in 1818, the idea that the dead could be revived was taken seriously by natural philosophers, but it was thanks to her husband, poet Percy Shelley, that Mary became intrigued by the idea of immortality. Together, they belonged to an artistic and intellectual set that often went beyond the fringes of social acceptability, occasionally mixing scientific innovation with literary creation to explain the unexplainable. The Lady and her Monsters paints a fascinating portrait of Mary Shelley and her writing in this volatile social and scientific context, bringing to life the origins of her immortal novel -- now a classic horror story.

Rosemary's Baby. The Exorcist. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Carrie. These are just some of the films made between 1968 and 1976 that redefined the horror movie genre. And thanks to writers and directors like Wes Craven and George Romero, horror movies moved to mainstream theaters and are now a billion-dollar industry. In addition to explaining how (and why) these films were made, theater critic, reporter, and horror-film fan Jason Zinoman explores how they gained popularity and what their creators went on to achieve. He also includes shot-by-shot descriptions of several films, which fans and newcomers alike will surely appreciate.

Contact your librarian for more great books!

This is a monthly emailing from the Pioneer Library System, headquartered in Norman, Oklahoma. You receive this email because you indicated you were interested in new book updates.